The reference to the lands policy was the recent decision against ringfencing prime agricultural land from mining while forcing miners to face scientific panels to gain approval to mine such areas.

They've flogged off the Tote, the state-owned bookmaker set up by Winston Churchill in 1928. They've sold the Channel Tunnel rail link to two Canadian pension funds. The NHS faces privatisation in all but name, some police services are to be carried out by private companies, and the Royal Mail, in state hands since its inception in 1516, is to be sold, with the taxpayer left paying for the company's pension fund liabilities.

And still the serial privatisers in the ConDem coalition aren't satisfied.

from Robert Fisk...

I'm getting a bit tired of the "deranged" soldier story. It was predictable, of course. The 38-year-old staff sergeant who massacred 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children, near Kandahar this week had no sooner returned to base than the defence experts and the think-tank boys and girls announced that he was "deranged". Not an evil, wicked, mindless terrorist – which he would be, of course, if he had been an Afghan, especially a Taliban – but merely a guy who went crazy.

Queensland businessman Clive Palmer has accused green groups of being funded by America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Abbott's humour less than killer, but does he lack compassion?

David Ritter, an academic, commentator and campaigner, writes:

With annual financial reports being released this time of year, the oil and gas industry is looking to continue its decade long trend of being one of the most profitable in the United States. As of February 27, 2012, the top six oil and gas companies have released their 2011 fourth quarter results-and with no surprise, profits continue to boom. The top six oil and gas companies raked in nearly $150 billion in profits last year-an increase of 69% from 2010. Despite another jaw dropping year, Big Oil continues to enjoy billions of dollars in taxpayer-backed subsidies.

picture by Gus Leonisky...

While most Australians rightly believe that Australia is a multicultural nation, in reality multiculturalism is encouraging divisions, discrimination and racism. Australia needs an inclusive multicultural policy to dismantle "white" dominance and unite Australians.

A parliamentary probe team on Thursday said up to 20 American troops were involved in Sunday's killing of 16 civilians in southern Kandahar province.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott gave a strong endorsement of Israel’s right to defend itself during a speech at the Central Synagogue last Friday night. 

From Crabb

An experiment to repeat a test of the speed of subatomic particles known as neutrinos has found that they do not travel faster than light.

Results announced in September suggested that neutrinos can exceed light speed, but were met with scepticism as that would upend Einstein's theory of relativity.

A test run by a different group at the same laboratory has now clocked them travelling at precisely light speed.

The results have been posted online.

For generations the Encyclopaedia Britannica was a wonder — the world’s knowledge on a single bookshelf. Now the touch of a finger can bring even more information instantaneously. That’s why Britannica will no longer be publishing a print edition. But what will be lost beside 129 pounds of book? Can you find that same sense of wonder online?

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/03/14/britannica-define-outdated/

The Gillard government has launched a stinging attack on the economic credentials of Peter Costello, deeming the former treasurer is not up to the job of heading up the Future Fund.

Yesterday Labor confirmed David Gonski as the replacement for outgoing chairman David Murray despite reports the overwhelming view of the board of guardians had backed Mr Costello for the job.

Mr Gonski - who recently led the review into the education system - was initially engaged to advise Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan to canvass the views of the seven Future Fund guardians - including Mr Costello - about who should be the new chairman.

Climate scientists are concerned that Australia's cool and wet summer [on the east coast] could lead to confusion about whether climate change is real. Picture by Gus Leonisky.